A worked example
A 5 GB file on a 100 Mbps connection takes about 6 minutes 50 seconds at full theoretical speed.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my 100 Mbps connection not download at 100 MB/s?
Internet speeds are measured in megabits per second, while file sizes are shown in megabytes — since there are 8 bits in a byte, a 100 Mbps connection tops out at about 12.5 MB/s, not 100 MB/s. It's one of the most common points of confusion in networking.
Why might my actual download be slower than this estimate?
This calculates a theoretical maximum based purely on your connection's rated speed — actual throughput is often lower due to network congestion, server-side bandwidth limits, Wi-Fi signal quality, or other devices sharing the same connection.